5 Q’s with 'Friday the 13th' Star Derek Mears
By Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com Staff
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Friday, February 13, 2009
On a more limber, complex Jason -- and putting on the mask for the first time.
Playing Jason or Bono, say deal:
It’s the closest thing to becoming a rock star, are you kidding me? It’s so surreal being a fan growing up. Running around in a hockey mask for Halloween. And then having someone say to you, “Hey man, how about you come play him for real?” What, you serious? It’s a great honor.
And playing a more complex Jason:
There’s a lot more layers to him, a more fleshed out character rather than a maniac running around killing people. On the one hand, he was the tortured kid and you can emphasize with that but then on the opposite end, you see how that energy is built up -- and then released.
Wait, Jason is even limber with the machete?:
Yeah, they wanted Jason to be more functional, not big and bulky, so I trained. And actually, I have a background in martial arts.
Honoring the legacy:
I found my own motivation for playing the character, but then there are little homages to other Jasons, like the slow head tilt from Ted White in Part IV or like in Part II when he came through the window. Great respect for the guys before me.
Putting on the mask for the first time:
I was in the shop with the master mask creator, Scott, and he says, “Hey, wanna put on the mask?” Everyone is watching, and I put it on and it’s like Excalibur, heavens part. It’s like that feeling you have when you first watch Star Wars, and that first instrumental note goes DUM! And the words start rolling up the screen, you get all chills.